Did you just get a gorgeous cat but do not know anything about its litter box cleaning?Not to worry, we’ve got you covered! Cat litter box selection and cleaning are very easy once you have identified steps to do so.You have to change the cat litter box regularly to ensure a hygienic and clean area for your cat. It has been suggested by experts that the cat’s litter box should be cleaned monthly (every 3-4 weeks). However, the number of times depends upon your pet cat, the type of litter box, the health of the cat, and the output of the cat. Sometimes you have to scoop it out and sometimes you have to change the cat’s box entirely and get a fresh one. There are various kinds of litter boxes that require different types of cleaning. Read on to find out!If you enjoy this article, why not also read about how often do you take a cat to the vet and why do cats like boxes here on Kidadl?How often do you completely change cat litter?A cat litter box is changed by owners when it seems to be wet or when the smell is pungent and noticeable. If you own one cat, a batch of litter can be changed once or twice every seven days. Scooping out the cat litter of a cat litter box used by only one cat must be done once or twice a day. One must remember that scooping must be done regularly as it maintains a clean litter box and makes the litter last longer. A simple way to determine when to change the litter box is by dividing the number of cats by the number of cat litter boxes. Doing this gives you the number of times cat litter boxes need to be cleaned in a day.A cat litter box is the equivalent of what a toilet is to humans. If you own a cat, parenting it will definitely bring up the issue of litter box cleaning. It is important to determine when to change the cat litter from cat litter boxes. It is also imperative to clean the cat’s litter box on time as the feline business can be very smelly. If you have many pet cats, you might have to scoop out the cat business (pee and poop) many times in a day as there will be a number of cat litter boxes and not just one. After your cat has used the litter box, the feces will have a bad smell, so you must scoop the feces out fast, right after your cat is done using the litter box. The reason why you need to do the scooping as soon as possible is that if the litter box is not up to the standards of your cat and has a bad smell, your cat will surely prefer to poop and pee someplace else in the house which it finds clean and fresh. You also need to clean the litter box on a regular basis as well as wash it with mild detergent/soap and warm water once a week, along with the daily scooping. You must not forget to change the cat litter box at any cost. It is easier to make a weekly litter box washing and cleaning routine. This routine involves four important steps. First off, scoop the cat litter box twice a day, or once if it is not smelly. Then once a week, you must put the dirty litter in a trash bag and throw it away in the trash. You must not flush it down the toilet. You must clean the litter box after you have emptied the litter box. A mild detergent/soap can be used with warm water to brush or scrub the litter box. You must also be wearing gloves while doing so as the litter box is not free from bacteria. When you replace the litter box, make sure that it is entirely dry. Replace the dirty litter with fresh new litter, and fill the box up to 2-3 inches (5-7.6 cm) with non-clumping litter and 3-4 inches (7.6-10.1 cm) with clumping litter, which is deep enough for your kitty to dig in. A baking soda layer can also be placed on the base of the litter box. This baking soda layer helps to absorb the smell of the waste.Different Types Of Cat LitterThere are many types of cat litter a cat owner can choose for the litter box. There is clumping litter, non-clumping litter, silica gel crystals, grass, and pine.The most preferred litter of cats is the clumping clay litter which is highly absorbent and as it clumps easily, it is easy to scoop out. The clay of this litter is made of bentonite that produces solid clumps after the kitty has finished doing its business, making it easier to scoop out the waste. A frequent problem faced while using this clumping cat litter is that it gets dusty and heavy. It is also non-biodegradable. However, as it is simple to clean and can be scooped out of the cat box easily, it is preferred. Clumping cat litter is to be changed every four to five days. You must also scrub the litter box every time you change the litter with gentle detergent and warm water. Then there is the non-clumping cat litter with clay that isn’t really absorbent. It does not produce clumps after your cat has finished urinating. The urine of the cat just stays on the surface. It doesn’t eliminate odor and needs to be changed frequently because of the bad smell of urine. However, it is preferred by many cats as well and is cheaper than the clumping cat litter. Non-clumping cat litter can be replaced with the help of a scooper. But non-clumping litter is tough to handle as the consistency makes it difficult when cleaning it. Silica gel crystals are another good option for cat litter as they eliminate odor efficiently and are also highly absorbent. They last for a long time and work effectively which is why they are also expensive compared to other types. However, silica gels are dangerous if swallowed by your pet. Pine is a recycled type of litter that is produced from wood or lumber scraps. These scraps are completely safe as they are treated with heat so as to eliminate oils, allergens, and toxins. This litter is available as granules or pellets and readily forms clumps as soon as the cat urinates on it. However, if it comes in contact with moisture, it becomes sawdust and needs to be changed within one to two days. Another benefit of this type of litter is that the smell of urine or feces is controlled by a pine scent. Urine and feces are easier to collect and it is also easier to clean the litter box. However, allergies can spread throughout the house. Grass litter is a relatively new type of litter that is made with fibers of grass. This type of litter eliminates odor and can even clump well. It is even easier to throw out as grass is biodegradable!Certain Breeds Might Need Litter Changed More OftenIf you have many cats of different breeds, they might prefer different types of cat litter. Some may prefer clumping cat litter, while some may prefer non-clumping cat litter. It entirely depends upon the cat’s health and how much it excretes. Some cats do not excrete in a certain type of cat litter, which is a sign that it may prefer another kind of cat litter.Cat litter boxes are important in a house that has a pet cat. These litter boxes must have absorbing litter present in them that can soak urine, hide feces, and control odor. Many cats may even not use their litter boxes as they might be dirty and full of bad smells. It is essential for a responsible owner to regularly change the cat litter and perform regular cleaning of the box.Can you change cat litter while pregnant?A pregnant woman should not change the litter box. It would be better if someone else can perform it as a parasitic infection known as toxoplasmosis can be transferred from cat feces. This infection causes symptoms in adults that are similar to the flu. However, sometimes there might not be any sign at all.If a pregnant woman gets toxoplasmosis while she is pregnant, it could probably be passed on to the baby which can become dangerous. If the baby catches it in early months, this infection can lead to serious damage to the brain and eyes. House cats do not carry this infection, but it is better to be safe. Thus, it is safer not to handle the cat litter if pregnant.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how often to change cat litter then why not take a look at why do cats put their butt in your face, or Borneo Bay Cat Facts.
Did you just get a gorgeous cat but do not know anything about its litter box cleaning?
